Like most Kiwis, MLC Group love tomatoes! Tomato sandwiches fill our lunchboxes. We make tomato relish at morning tea time. And when we play cricket at afternoon tea time, we use a tomato as a cricket ball. Yep, it can get a bit messy. So, why do we love tomatoes as much as we do? Because tomatoes are really delicious and really, really good for you. Here are just a few benefits!

Tomatoes are good for your skin: Tomatoes contain lots of lycopene, which is used in the expensive facial cleansers you can buy. To use tomatoes in your beauty regime, peel about eight tomatoes, then place the skin on your face with the inside of the tomato touching your skin. Leave the tomato skins on your face for a minimum of ten minutes, then wash off to reveal clean and shiny skin.

Tomatoes are packed with antioxidants: Lycopene is something of a wonder substance, as it is a natural antioxidant that can protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. You’ll find more lycopene in cooked tomatoes than raw ones, so go ahead and buy some canned tomatoes to go with the ones you grow. The Vitamin A and Vitamin C in tomatoes also act as antioxidants…. but as cooking destroys Vitamin C, some of your tomatoes must be eaten raw. Therefore, a 50/50 mix of raw and cooked tomatoes in your diet is about right!

Tomatoes are good for your bones: Tomatoes contain more than their fair share of calcium and Vitamin K, which can not only strengthen your bones, but can also make minor repairs on bones and bone tissue.

Tomatoes for heart health: The Vitamin B and potassium in tomatoes effectively reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Include more tomatoes in your regular diet and you might lessen the risk of heart attacks, heart-related issues and strokes.

Tomatoes are good for your hair: The Vitamin A in tomatoes can promote strong and shiny hair. Sadly, the more follically-challenged team members at MLC Group are unable to make the most of this benefit.

Tomatoes improve your vision: The same Vitamin A that improves your hair can also improve your vision. As a bonus, tomatoes can vastly slow down, or even prevent, the onset of night blindness.

Tomatoes can help diabetics control blood sugar: Tomatoes contain loads of chromium, a mineral which can help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels.

With all these benefits, we’re not surprised that you want to start growing some tomatoes of your own. Check out our recent blog “How to grow the perfect tomato” and ask your fellow tomato lovers at MLC Group about our garden stakes which will help your plants grow up to be super healthy…just like you after a feed of your perfect tomatoes!